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Has anyone used the Aquasoil and Powersand?

How does the Aquasoil affect pH. It claims to lower it, along with hardness. How do they do that?

Does the PowerSand affect pH and hardness or is it just the Aquasoil?

How would it compare to Eco-Complete?

I'm leaning towards Eco-Complete, but thought I'd explore this other stuff from ADA.

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Choose substrate to see more options.

I just read through the site about the Aquasoil, and Powersand. It looks like they are meant to be used together. The smaller (Powersand) would settle on the bottom. It looks interesting, but I don't know about those claims they are making. I hate it when companies make claims but provide no info to back them up with.

Eco complete is basically a mixture of both aquasoil and powersand, as far as the shape of the granules. I like that I didn't have to buy 2 products to get the effect that the eco provides. Indeed smaller particles settle on the bottom. This makes it easier for the roots to grow.

Smack me if I'm wrong. lol

Shannen

That's kind of what I'm thinking Shannen. I want a pretty planted tank and I have a feeling I can get it with Eco-Complete.

I don't konw that low pH is good for plants. Many plants do best in slightly alkaline water, at least from what I've read.

As for the PH, it really depends on the plant. They have requirements just like fish. *shrugs*

I would like for someone to get this stuff and try it out for us.

Know any scapegoats we can call?

As for the pretty lush plants with Eco...You'll have to wait to see the end result of my tank in the aqua Contest...err Dang! I just remembered today is the deadline. I'll have to twist Jamie’s arm to get a pic sent to Babel.

I've used it and am now. It's something like flora base but darker in color which I like.
It's got nutrients added in it, NH4. Not a lot, but enough to feed the plants for awhile, maybe a month or 6 weeks. By then the tank's bacteria have munched it all into NO3 or the plants have gotten most of it. Then you rely on the water column. I foyu add KNO3 from the start then, most of it turns to NO3 and gets used up also.
Don't move the substrate around much.,.

All substrate tend towards neutral after a few weeks.
The peat binds the Ca and Mg, rerleases humic acids, this has a limited capacity over time.

The substrate was too light weight for my personal taste, like Profile amd Eco complete. They all grow plants well though, I think folks will find little difference there.

Idf you limit the water column, that wuill fornce the plants to use what's in the substrate, but if you can master the water column and dosing regularly, then the substrate plays a very minor role.

I like Onyx sand the most.
I add a little peat, leonardite and mulm/detritus from an established tank. That's as good as anything out there.

All substrates eventually rely on the water column for nutrients or you need to go in and add them back every few months.

I set them up well and get them off to a good start, then work on the water column which is easy to maintain and dose.


Regards,
Tom Barr